OVERVIEW:Okay so as you all know from reading the Absentee Thread, I wasn't planning on doing a third season of this as I plan on leaving the RE in the near future (which I still plan on doing so) but since I'm still in a few reduxes and have another to finish, I figured I might as well do this on the side and see who is going to follow in the footsteps of Alisha Compton and last season's winner - Ma'Kalia. This season, Justin, Katy, Cheryl and Piers have selected sixteen new acts to perform in the Live Shows. This season promises to have the most diverse contestants yet! That's all there pretty much is to it. I'm excited about the cast and I think (and hope) there will be some surprises in this season. Who's going to follow in Alisha and Ma'Kalia's footsteps? That's up to you.

ADAM MACKENZIEAge: 22Hometown: Virginia Beach, VAGenres: Electropop / Synthpop / DanceIdentifies with: Simon Curtis | Blake McGrath | Jeffree StarBACKGROUND: Adam claims the toughest thing he's ever had to do in his life were telling his parents he was gay when he was nineteen. He was afraid that they would disown him and look down upon him as a son but in fact they were very supportive of him. The judges agree that even though Adam is not the best singer in the competition, he stands out as a performer and his style of music is extremely relative to today's industry.

ERIN DIXONAge: 19Hometown: Odessa, TXGenres: Country / Country PopIdentifies with: Martina McBride | Faith Hill | LeAnn RimesBACKGROUND: Erin is ecstatic to be the first country act to make the live shows on X-Factor: US and at the same time, she is also nervous and feeling the pressure. Though this southern belle is a soloist in the Girls' category, she is not enduring this competition alone, she has her older brother Evan competing in the Boys' category. She claims that the two are extremely close to one another and jokes that a little competition between siblings is always good.

MISS DONNAAge: 28Hometown: Harlem, NYGenres: R&B / Hip Hop / SoulIdentifies with: Kelly Rowland | Christina Milian | Keri HilsonBACKGROUND: Without a doubt, the season's most controversial contestant. Miss Donna originally entered the competition as a duo with her younger sister. However, the judges saw no star quality in her sister but rather they saw tons of star potential in Miss Donna but as a soloist. She was told she could progress in the competition as a soloist but her sister just wasn't cut out for the music industry. To everyone's surprise Miss Donna let her sister take the fall alone and she became a soloist. Since that incident Miss Donna has not spoken to her family but claims it is her dream to become a worldwide superstar and she had to do what she had to do.

RACHEL FURLONGERAge: 42Hometown: Victorville, CAGenres: Pop / Blues / SoulIdentifies with: Alicia Keys | Etta James | Lady GagaBACKGROUND: Probably the contestant that surprised the judges the most was Rachel Furlonger. Her soulful and bluesy tone was an instant hit with the judges and audience. She admits that she may not have the look of a superstar but at the end of the day, this is a singing competition. She's prepared to hear the haters comment on her weight but the only thing she can do is stay true to herself and deliver week after week.

VANESSA CARDWELLAge: 25Hometown: Seattle, WAGenres: Pop / Rock / Power PopIdentifies with: Fergie | Christina Aguilera | P!nkBACKGROUND: When she found out X-Factor was coming to Seattle, Vanessa could not pass up on the chance to audition. However, she had to quit her band (as lead vocalist) back in Seattle to audition. She was called a 'vocal powerhouse' after her initial audition. After being a struggling musician for the last few years, she's thankful to finally have her foot in the door and she hopes she win X-Factor because it would be a dream come true.

YOUR QUEENSRenee, Christina, Callie & DomAges: 26-32Hometowns: Hollywood, CA / Jacksonville, FL / Memphis, TN / Los Angeles, CAGenres: Pop / Soul / Pop RockIdentify with: En Vogue | Beverley Knight | Whitney HoustonBACKGROUND: A group brought together in bootcamp, these four vocal powerhouses were manufactured into one group because the judges felt they would be unstoppable. While the judges admitted they each had pretty good runs during bootcamp, they wanted to try something new and see how four divas brought together would work. After their mind blowing performance during the judges' houses, it can be certain that Your Queens was a group waiting to be brought together after all.

KABIL WILLIAMSAge: 20Hometown: Columbus, GAGenres: R&B / Soul / Jazz FusionIdentifies with: John Legend | Cee Lo Green | MaxwellBACKGROUND: Kabil didn't have the most normal childhood growing up. When he was thirteen, his father left his mother after she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Since then Kabil and his three older siblings have been taking care of her and working to support her. He now is determined to make a better life for his family by winning the X-Factor and he claims that his mother is supporting him every step of the way.

MIDNIGHT-N-CALLSJavier, Conor, Eric, Dakota & IbrahamAges: 17-20Hometowns: Montgomery, AB / Cape Coral, FL / Palm Springs, CA / Myrtle Beach, SC / San Jose, CAGenres: Pop / Teen PopIdentify with: New Kids On The Block | Backstreet Boys | *NSYNCBACKGROUND: After all auditioning as soloists and being cut in the final stage of bootcamp, the judges decided to give these five young men a second chance and put them together as a group. They were told that had they originally auditioned as a group they would have dominated the competition so now they're putting that to a test and seeing whether it was the right decision to form Midnight-N-Calls or were they better off intially sending home the five boys?

JARED PUNCHARDAge: 32Hometown: Mount Vernon, NYGenres: Pop Rock / SoulIdentifies with: James Morrison | Gavin DeGraw | Daniel MerriweatherBACKGROUND: Working in construction back in New York, Jared claims that this whole 'star experience' is definitely something he can and wants to get used to. He realized he wanted to do music when he sold some of his most prized possessions to buy a guitar (when he wasn't working obvs). He hopes he can prove that he's more than just another pretty face and win X-Factor.

NOW UPON ATIMEDerek, Lacey & BenAges: 21-27Hometowns: Los Angeles, CAGenres: Alternative Rock / Punk / AcousticIdentify with: Paramore | All American Rejects | Avril LavigneBACKGROUND: A girl (Lacey), her boyfriend (Ben) and his brother (Derek), this rock trio formed about three years ago in their hometown of Los Angeles. Derek jokes that he often feels like the third wheel in this trio but when it comes to music he will endure anything to make it. Often the strong lead vocalist, Lacey feels like Now Upon Atime is something X-Factor has never had before and they're ready to take the competition by storm.

MARCELLO MEJIAAge: 37Hometown: Kansas City, MOGenres: Opera / Vocal / Adult ContemporaryIdentifies with: Andrea Bocelli | Josh Groban | Il DivoBACKGROUND: Marcello is remembered as the man who brought the judges and audience to tears after his moving audition. Marcello is excited to bring his operatic vocals to X-Factor but he questions whether he is what America is looking for. He hopes his unique sound will win over the public like they won over the judges.

CARMEN HALLAge: 27Hometown: Jefferson, NJGenres: Pop / Soft Rock / AcousticIdentifies with: Coldplay | Ryan Tedder | The FrayBACKGROUND: Carmen's voice surprised the judges when he first auditioned in New Jersey. He never takes a moment in his life for granted after his near death experience when he was almost killed in a car accident. Albeit, he was driving under the influence but everyone makes mistakes and a grateful Carmen is ready to take on X-Factor.

ASHLEY JORDANAge: 25Hometown: Sacramento, CAGenres: Pop / Adult Contemporary / Singer-SongwriterIdentifies with: Sarah McLachlan | Jewel | DidoBACKGROUND: A musician back in Sacramento, Ashley has always had a love for music from as far back as she can remember. There is nothing else in life that this California girl wants to do in life. Initially at her audition, Ashley received a standing ovation from the judges but bootcamp was a bumpy road for her. Ashley's biggest task in this will be whether she can overcome her nerves or else the competition will eat her up. Not literally. Obvs.

BA'SICKZCrystal, Kevin, Brandon & WayneAges: 20-27Hometown: Brooklyn, NYGenres: Electrohop / Hip Hop / R&B / DanceIdentify with: Black Eyed Peas | Usher | RihannaBACKGROUND: A group of four friends from Brooklyn, Ba'Sickz (pronounced "basics") claim themselves to be 'the lives of the party' as they describe their music as being 'feel good music'. They feel their energy is what will win over America and they think that they have the right chemistry with one another to take it all the way. After almost falling apart in the bootcamp rounds when the competition proved to be too much for Kevin to handle and then threatening to leave the group, the group managed to stick together and have now made the live shows. They're ready to win over America.

GLORIA CARROLLAge: 45Hometown: Baltimore, MDGenres: Soul / R&B / Jazz / FolkIdentifies with: India.Arie | Tracy Chapman | Corinne Bailey RaeBACKGROUND: As a mortician, Gloria has always believed she was destined to be a singer but she never got her big break. Now that she's on X-Factor, she's ready to start living her dream and working as hard as she's never worked before. She feels her unique sound and look will be what makes America want to vote for her.

EVAN DIXONAge: 24Hometown: Odessa, TXGenres: Rock and RollIdentifies with: Elvis Presley | Jerry Lee Lewis | Buddy HollyBACKGROUND: Initially at his audition, Evan's style surprised the judges and they claimed he was a breath of fresh air. Evan's little sister Erin is competing in the Girls' category and Evan cannot be more ecstatic about that. He realizes that the two are competing against each other but he has always put his little sister first in his life and he claims that as bad as he wants to win X-Factor, that will not change.